Year-End Prep Starts Now — A CFO’s Guide for Executives & Founders
August might still feel like summer, but in finance, it’s the unofficial start of the finish line. The smartest leaders treat August like January — a time to lay the groundwork for year-end success, long before the Q4 scramble begins.
At Acrux Advisory, we help executives use this month to transition from maintenance mode to mission mode, tightening financial controls, planning tax strategies, and designing a clear runway into 2026.
🧮 1. Audit Your Financials Before the Auditors Do
One of the most valuable things you can do in August is run a mock audit. Clean up balance sheet accounts, verify reconciliations, and ensure your documentation would pass external scrutiny. That means reviewing:
Revenue recognition policies and deferred revenue schedules
Expense classifications and accruals
Intercompany eliminations and consolidation processes
Supporting documentation for high-risk accounts
This proactive approach doesn’t just make year-end smoother — it builds investor and board confidence now.
🧭 2. Align With Your EA or CPA on Tax Strategy
Waiting until December to think about taxes is like cramming for a final exam at midnight. August is when you should:
Review estimated payments and quarterly filings.
Plan for year-end deductions, charitable contributions, or bonus accruals.
Discuss major business changes (like expansions or acquisitions) that could affect tax positions.
We collaborate closely with your existing tax professionals to ensure that financial reporting and tax strategy move in lockstep — keeping you prepared, compliant, and optimized.
📊 3. Build Your 2026 Budget Framework Now
August is the perfect time to begin next year’s budgeting process. By starting early, you give your leadership team time to refine forecasts, prioritize initiatives, and align around shared goals.
We help companies build robust, data-driven budgets that include:
Revenue modeling by product, market, or customer type.
Expense projections that reflect new hiring or strategic initiatives.
Capital expenditure planning and ROI forecasting.
Contingency planning for multiple economic scenarios.
It’s not about predicting the future — it’s about preparing for it.
🏡 4. Review Personal Financial Goals Before the Rush
Executives and founders should treat August as a checkpoint for personal financial health too. Review your family budget, philanthropic goals, vacation and education savings plans, and investment strategies now — so year-end decisions aren’t rushed.
With monthly personal bookkeeping support, Acrux Advisory helps clients track spending, align with financial advisors, and stay tax-ready — long before deadlines loom.
🗓️ 5. Schedule Strategic Planning Sessions for Q4
The smartest leaders block out October and November for deep-dive planning sessions — well before the holiday chaos hits. These meetings are where KPIs turn into next year’s roadmaps and where budgets align with vision.
We facilitate those sessions for our clients, ensuring every decision is grounded in data, not guesswork.
✍️ Final Word: The Best Year-Ends Start in August
Year-end success isn’t built in December — it’s engineered months in advance. By tightening financial controls, aligning with tax advisors, building budgets early, and clarifying both business and personal priorities, executives can approach Q4 with confidence instead of chaos.
📌 Note:
Annual budgeting and personal planning services are offered exclusively to Acrux Advisory’s monthly bookkeeping clients as part of a long-term financial clarity partnership.
📌 Services & Disclaimer
Disclaimer: Acrux Advisory is not a CPA firm and does not provide services requiring a public accountancy license. Availability may vary, and engagements are accepted based on current capacity.